Dick Bestany

Congratulations to Melissa Passalaqua of JOH, who has been awarded the prestigious Harry O’Hare Award for 2015. The honor is presented to the person at JOH who most personifies the values and qualities that marked the life and career of Harry O’Hare, founder of the company. Hard work, integrity, passion, a positive attitude and team spirit are all part of Mr. O’Hare’s personal and professional legacy.

Melissa started her career with JOH as a part-time category analyst and is now the director of category management. “Her infectious smile, can-do attitude and tireless work ethic make Melissa a very special associate and friend to many,” said Matt O’Hare, senior VP, corporate development.

“When our clients are faced with a situation that needs immediate attention and a winning solution, Melissa gets the call. She reacts with a positive attitude and works closely with her team to deliver the results everyone expects. She is highly professional, has an extreme sense of urgency and does not stop until the job is done right,” said John Saidnawey, president and COO. “We are thrilled to have Melissa on our team.”

Kudos to the folks at Giant/Carlisle and Martin’s and all of their customers, who gave generously this holiday season by donating $630,028 to local Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) Hospitals in their communities. As part of the retailer’s annual “Candles for Kids” campaign, customers could purchase a paper candle at the checkout between Nov. 22 and Dec. 5 for $1 each.

“For nearly 20 years, our customers have embraced Giant/Martin’s commitment to help build healthy communities,” said Tom Lenkevich, president of Giant/Carlisle. “Combined with our CMN paper balloon campaign held in June, this year our customers donated more than $1.1 million to support CMN Hospitals in saving lives and bringing health back to children.”

Among the CMN hospitals and communities that benefited from this year’s Candles for Kids campaign were: Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, The Janet Weis Children’s Hospital at Geisinger, Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU, Children’s National Medical Center, University of Virginia Children’s Hospital, Pittsburgh Children’s Hospital and Johns Hopkins Children’s Center.

Since 1996, Giant/Carlisle has raised more than $37 million for CMN Hospitals in communities where it operates. Giant/Carisle is one of the top 10 fundraisers in the country for CMN and ranks second nationwide in per-store fundraising. In addition to conducting annual in-store campaigns, like Candles for Kids, Giant/Carlisle associates also volunteer at CMN Hospital events, including radio and television telethons.

As readers of this column know, we are always amazed by how giving the companies that make up the food industry are. To wit, this month Giant/Carlisle and Martin’s Food Stores are asking for customers to “Bag Hunger” during September’s Hunger Action month. Customers can donate $1 at the checking during the annual campaign that will run for two weeks.

“The fight against hunger is an everyday battle, and for most it hits too close to home as many families and children go without a meal,” said Tom Lenkevich, president of Giant/Carlisle. “We’re so proud that our customers take action with us as we combat hunger every September during Hunger Action month. Together we can win the fight against hunger in our communities.”

Giant/Martin’s also addresses the need for high-value protein for those who often go hungry by providing meat that would otherwise go unsold to regional food bank partners through its Meat The Needs program. Since 2010, more than three million pounds of meat have been donated to communities from all Giant and Martin’s locations.

Giant/Carlisle’s sister Ahold USA division, Giant/Landover, is also doing its part to support children who would otherwise do without healthy meal options. The Landover, MD based retailer supported The Great American Milk Drive through an in-store campaign to help deliver critically needed gallons of milk to children and families in location communities. Customers had the opportunity to make a $4 donation at the checkout, which equated to one gallon of milk, which resulted in Giant donating $21,924 to food banks throughout its market area, including the Maryland Food Bank, the Capital Area Food Bank, Fredericksburg Area Food Bank, Blue Ridge Area Food Bank and the Food Bank of Delaware.

Milk is one of the most requested items by food bank clients year-round, and it is especially needed during the summer when kids may be missing out on nutritious meals provided through school breakfast and lunch program.

“Giant is proud to have participated in another successful Great American Milk Drive and to have supported the Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association and our shared initiatives of combating food insecurity and promoting hunger awareness,” said Jamie Miller, manager of public and community relations at Giant/Landover. “We also thank our customers for coming together to help put milk on the table for many families in our community.”

Also supporting the communities it serves is C&S Wholesale Grocers, which last month raised a total of $2 million for six non-profit organizations devoted to pediatric cancer and childhood hunger issues through its annual “Tee Up For Kids” charity golf outing held last month. Locally, C&S contributed $450,000 to the No Kid Hungry campaign in Washington, DC.

“This was a tremendous year where our charity event achieved numerous milestones, solidifying, C&S’ legacy of helping families whose children are bravely battling cancer or facing hunger,” said Rick Cohen, CEO and chairman of C&S. “In the 30 years since its inception, our charity golf outing has been able to donate over $11 million to our non-profit partners. None of this would have been possible without the generous support of our customers, vendors, and business partners. Thank you.”

On the subject of the battle so many people fight daily against hunger, The City of Baltimore has announced an initiative designed to attract more food retailers to areas of the municipality under-served by this category, in the hopes that a greater number of residents will have access to fresh, healthy food.

According to the Baltimore Business Journal, “Financial incentives for grocery stores that agree to set up shop in areas that lack access to food, a longer distribution period for food stamps and improving inventory at corner stores and public markets are among the city’s plans for ensuring more Baltimore residents have access to fresh, healthy food. The city also wants to expand farmers markets and look into transportation options to get residents to grocery stores beyond walking distance.”

A new report, issued by the Baltimore Food Policy Initiative and the JohnsHopkinsCenter for a Livable Future, has concluded that “one in four Baltimore residents lives in a so-called food desert, or a geographic area that is more than a quarter mile from a grocery store. The household median income in food deserts is at or below 185 percent the poverty the poverty line and at least a third of the households do not have a car. Children and minorities are disproportionately affected by food access problems, the report found.

The Baltimore Business Journal adds, “City officials plan to use the report, which maps out every grocery store, convenience store and farmers market by council district, to drive new policy that will improve access to food.”

From this writer’s point of view, as a result of the recent unrest that occurred in Baltimore, it’s going to take more than just setting up more places to obtain food, it’s going to take better police enforcement in the inner city, education and job opportunities. The politicians have to lock up the gang leaders and drug dealers that litter the city.

It’s not going to be an easy problem to solve. It will need cooperation from the federal and state agencies along with BaltimoreCity’s elected officials and the responsible citizens of the city, of which there are many. Baltimore is a wonderful city, with wonderful people and a great history. Not only are the good citizens of Baltimore proud of their city, all citizens of Maryland are proud of the city.

While I realize Baltimore’s problems will not be easily solved, if the collective power of the great people of Baltimore and Maryland can’t do something to return Baltimore to its prominent and rightful place in history, then all good works that Baltimore is known for will be forgotten by the future generations.

For the second consecutive year, North Carolina-based Harris Teeter is celebrating its Southern heritage with Carolina Charm, a program shining the spotlight on 16 Carolina brands available at Harris Teeter stores. These brands, some dating back to the early 1800s, epitomize Carolina spirit, rich with family history and individuality. Brands include Hunter Farms, Cheerwine, Snyder’s-Lance, Smithfield, Duke’s Mayonnaise, Texas Pete, Creative Snacks, Butterball, Burt’s Bees, Lindy’s Italian Ice, McCall Farms/Margaret Holmes, Front Porch, Charleston Mix, James Foods, Mt.Olive and Carolina Biso.

The loyalty to the Charm Brands is driven by taste, of course, but also by economics. The Charm brands collectively employ more than 65,000 people, generating billions of dollars in revenue. Harris Teeter employs another 28,000 associates. Supporting local businesses drives money directly back into the economy of the Carolinas.

“Harris Teeter is thrilled with the opportunity to again celebrate our vibrant selection of local products, as well as the hard-working families behind those products,” said Danna Robinson, communication manager for Harris Teeter. “Our company was born and raised here in North Carolina, so participating in a program like Carolina Charm allows us to not only put these brands center stage and educate our shoppers on the rich legacy of our Carolina brands, but it also helps us remain true to our roots. From generations of founding families to employees for nearly 40 years, to young entrepreneurs, the people behind Carolina Charm brands, but it also helps us remain true to our roots.”

From generations of founding families to employees for nearly 40 years, to young entrepreneurs, the people behind Carolina Charm brands are profiled in the August issue of North Carolina’s Our State magazine.

Get well wishes go out to Pete Legambi, JOH, who is on the mend after recent surgery. We’re all wishing you a speedy recovery, Pete.

In closing, after a few weeks on Cape Cod, it is nice to be back “home” in Maryland. While we enjoyed our vacation – relaxing and visiting friends and relatives – it’s great to get “back home.” Two new-to-us dining finds are the Sesuit Harbor Café, an outdoor dining clam shack overlooking SesuitHarbor and the Northside Marina in Dennis, MA. Great place for local seafood and beautiful sunsets. We joined our longtime friends Maisie and Peter Wall of Harwich at The Red Pheasant Inn on Historic 6A in Dennis. Housed in a 200-year old refurbished barn with an attached garden room, the inn’s menu features produce from local farms, Cape Cod seafood, farm raised, grass fed beef and an extensive wine and cocktail selection.

The Obama administration is ordering food companies to phase out the use of heart-clogging trans-fats over the next three years, calling them a threat to public health. The move will remove artificial trans fats from the food supply almost entirely. Consumers aren’t likely to notice much of a difference in their favorite foods, but the administration says the move will reduce coronary heart disease and prevent thousands of fatal heart attacks every year.

Scientists say there are no health benefits to the fats, which are used in processing food and in restaurants, usually to improve texture, shelf life or flavor. They can raise levels of “bad” cholesterol and lower “good” cholesterol, increasing the risk of heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States.

The fats are created when hydrogen is added to vegetable oil to make it more solid, which is why they are often called partially hydrogenated oils. Once a staple of the American diet – think shortening and microwave popcorn – most artificial trans fats are already gone. The FDA says that between 2003 and 2012, consumer trans fat consumption decreased an estimated 78 percent as food companies have used other kinds of oils to replace them.

But some foods still have them, and the Food and Drug Administration says those trans fats remaining in the food supply are a threat to public health. Some of the foods that commonly contain trans fats are pie crusts, biscuits, microwave popcorn, coffee creamers, frozen pizza, refrigerated dough, vegetable shortenings and stick margarines.

The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), the main trade group for the food industry, is working with companies on a petition that would formally ask the FDA if it can say there is a “reasonable certainty of no harm” from some specific uses of the fats.

In a statement after the announcement the GMA said that it is pleased with the FDA’s three-year compliance period, which “minimizes unnecessary disruptions to commerce,.” The group has not specified what the industry plans to ask for, but has said the FDA encouraged food companies to submit a petition.

This summer, Los Angeles will welcome 7,000 inspirational athletes from 177 different countries to the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games. Supporting children and adults with intellectual disabilities, the World Games is the largest sports and humanitarian event on the globe. To celebrate, The Coca-Cola Company, Founding Partner of Special Olympics, has assembled a star-studded team to record a unified song for the 2015 World Games, titled “Reach Up.” The new song will be performed during the Opening Ceremonies at the World Games on July 25.

Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) one of the world’s largest independent Coca-Cola bottlers, has released its 10th annual Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability report which includes its most ambitious commitments to date. The new targets include: reducing calories per liter across CCE’s entire portfolio by 10 percent by 2020; halving the carbon footprint of its business by 2020; and ensuring that 40 percent of the PET it uses is recycled and/or from renewable materials by 2020.

According to a recent survey conducted by the National Association of Convenience Stores, a majority of consumers expected gas prices to continue to rise during June, a period in which gas prices tend to moderate or even fall after the completion of the annual spring transition to summer-blend fuel. Nearly three in five consumers expect gas prices to go up over the summer months. Despite these rising gas prices, consumer optimism is about the overall is growing. A slight majority (52 percent) of consumers say they feel “very” or “somewhat optimistic” about the economy, up four percentage points from the 48 percent who said so in May.

The Ruderman Family Foundation (www.rudermanfoundation.org) in partnership with The Jewish Week Media Group has revealed the recipients of the inaugural “Best in Business Award.” This national competition highlights North American businesses – large corporations and small family owned businesses – that have shown exemplary practices in hiring, training and supporting people with disabilities.

Two of the recipients were supermarket operators. Wegmans, headquartered in Rochester, NY, believes that a commitment to diversity and inclusion allows them to be a great place to work and a great place to shop.

Lakeland, FL-based Publix, with 176,000 associates, has the distinction of being the largest for all people. The company feels that hiring people with disabilities is the right thing to do and aligns with the company value of respect, according to the Ruderman Family Foundation employee-owned supermarket chain. Publix makes an effort to hire people who reflect the makeup of people in each store store’s community, which includes hiring people of different backgrounds, ethnicities and abilities, the Ruderman Family Foundation says.

Other award recipients include: Long Island Marriott Hotel, Long Island, NY; Rising Tide Car Wash, Parkland. FL; Megleen Inc., Toronto, Ontario; Green Distribution, Secaucus, NJ; Ultra Testing LLC, New York, NY; Accessibility Partners, Silver Spring, MD; (words) Bookstore, Maplewood, NJ; and BagelToons, Detroit, MI.

All of the honorees have demonstrated a history of employing people with disabilities, training and supporting them and developing innovative approaches to maximizing employee’s abilities. A panel of seven experts selected the winners among the many nominations that were submitted on line according to the Ruderman Family Foundation.

Currently in the U.S., the unemployment rate of adults with disabilities hovers between 70 to 80 percent. The goal of the campaign is to shine a spotlight on these businesses and show than an inclusive workplace is good for an employer’s bottom line. Gaining a competitive edge means employing the best people available.

And since most of our readers are connected to the food industry in one way or another, the following might be of interest: North American consumers were snacking an average of 2.3 times a day in late 2013, up from 1.8 times a day in 2008. In a recent survey, by the North American Snacking Consumer Quantitative Study, nearly a quarter of consumers said they replace at least one meal a day with a snack, and they are most likely to snack late at night (24 percent), mid-afternoon (21 percent) and mid-morning (18 percent).

On average, 4.4 foods or beverages are consumed at each snacking occasion. This opens a number of new opportunity areas for manufacturers—like snack products that combine different foods and serve as mini-meals. Nuts have benefited from the increase in snacking. In the survey, consumers said they prefer to snack on nuts mid-morning, but their actual self-reported consumption is more evenly distributed across all day parts! Almonds are the nut most frequently consumed as a snack, and among almonds, salted and roasted almonds are the most common type that consumers report snacking on. Almonds are most commonly paired with apples, bananas, chocolate, salad and granola bars.

Almonds are the number one nut associated with crunch, being convenient and easy to eat, and “the perfect snack for me.” It’s no wonder that almonds are the number one nut in new snack product introduction in North America. For more information about almonds, visit Almonds.com/Food-Professionals.

My column will not appear this summer because Kathy and I and our grandkids will be vacationing on Cape Cod in the beautiful town of Orleans, Mass. You can still send tidbits for my column c/o Food World, 5537 Twin Knolls Rd., Columbia, MD 21045. If you get to Orleans, join me for a beverage at my favorite pub, Land Ho, in the center of town. Enjoy the summer season wherever it takes you.

Consumer Reports published its annual ranking of the country’s supermarkets, based on a survey of more than 60,000 shoppers, concluding that Wegmans is the best store in the U.S. The balance of the top 20 list includes, in order, Publix, Trader Joe’s, Fareway Stores, Market Basket, Costco, Raley’s, Sprouts, The Fresh Market, Stater Bros., WinCo, Hy-Vee, HEB, Aldi, Whole Foods, Fry’s, Harris-Teeter, King Soopers, Fred Meyer AND Food City.

The four chains at the bottom of the list: Pathmark (owned by A&P), A&P, Wal-MartSuperCenters, and Waldbaums (owned by A&P).

The story goes on to say that freshness and prepared meats usually are seen by shoppers as being the differentiating offerings that define a good store vs. a bad store.

Utz Quality Foods recently announced the culmination of strategic development work to launch the Utz Specialty Division. In recognizing the ever-growing consumer demand for snack foods, the Utz Specialty Division will provide retailers with a range of brands and products to excite consumers around better-for-you, craft and regional snack foods.

Drawing on the December 2013 acquisition of the Good Health brand, Utz has spent the last year expanding the portfolio of better-for-you snacks, packaging enhancements and broadening the brand’s distribution base, reaching across the U.S. and export. According to the IRI’s most recent 52 and 12 week dollar sales, the Good Health brand is up 45 percent and 120 percent, respectively (Source: IRI MULO, Dollar Sales 52/12 wks ending 3/22/15) and the brand is well positioned to accelerate further.

According to Dylan Lissette, president and CEO of Utz, “….as the fourth largest snack brand in the United States, with vertical integration of brand ownership, manufacturing, sales, and distribution, we are uniquely situated to work with all classes of trade to develop products and sales programs to meet the consumer’s ever-changing needs.”

Utz has also recently appointed Rick Suchenski to the role of senior vice president of sales and marketing to lead the launch and management of the new division.

“Consumers continue to demand a wide range of snack food offerings for varying occasions. Coupled with this demand and a range of existing and new capabilities, the Utz Specialty Division is uniquely positioned to provide retailers with solutions to capitalize on snack food trends and generate increased sales. And with facilities located in San Diego, CA, Denver, CO, Greensboro, NC, Hanover, PA and more, the Utz Specialty team is nationally situated and highly accessible to the market,” said Suchenski.

Also, as part of a comprehensive plan to further support the Utz Specialty Division’s growing technical capabilities, capacity requirements, and distribution reach, Utz has recently acquired Condor Snack Company of Denver, CO and Keystone Pretzel Bakery of Lititz, PA.

As many of our readers know, Utz Quality Foods Inc. is a privately-owned and family managed company founded in 1921 and based in Hanover, PA. The company manufactures and markets snack foods throughout the United States and internationally. Utz has seven manufacturing facilities in Pennsylvania and additional facilities in Louisiana, California, Colorado and Massachusetts. Utz products are distributed nationally through grocery, mass merchants, club stores, convenience stores, drug stores and other channels under the Utz, Zapp’s, “Dirty,” Good Health, Bachman, Wachusett and California Chips brand names. For information about Utz or its products, you can visit www.utzsnacks.com or call 1-800-FOR-SNAX.

On a personal note, we are pleased to write about the success of Utz. When Jeff Metzger and I bought Food World  in1978, the Utz family was one of the first companies to welcome us with open arms to the Mid-Atlantic. And, they have also supported us with trade advertising continuously ever since.

There was an interesting story in the April issue of The Packer which reports that, according to some new research, for consumers, fresh is the overwhelming first choice among food attributes. FoodThink, a research initiative conducted by Sullivan Hidgon & Sink, published a white paper titled, “Our Plight to Eat Right.”

According to the paper, food marketers also should emphasize taste and convenience to capture more healthy food sales.

Eighty percent of consumers rank fresh as “very” or “somewhat” important when making food purchasing decisions, according to the study. That compares with the next leading attributes ranking as very/somewhat important, including high vitamins and minerals (64 percent), natural flavors (63 percent), no trans fat (63 percent), lean (63 percent), natural (58 percent), no additives (58 percent) no GMOs (48 percent) and organic (36 percent).

But the survey of 2,000 adults conducted in 2014 found only 44 percent of consumers polled were committed to a healthy diet, down from 61 percent in 2012. Among men, 43 percent said they were committed to a healthy diet, down from 58 percent in 2012. For women, 44 percent were committed to a healthy diet, down from 63 percent two years ago.

And consumers have less guilt about eating unhealthy food compared with 2012. In 2014, 48 percent of consumers said they feel guilty when they don’t eat healthy, down from 61 percent in 2012.

“Most Americans know that eating healthy is important, and they try to do so, but too many roadblocks throw them off track,” Christy Niebaum, senior FoodThink researcher, said in a news release about the study. “Food marketers that help consumers realize a healthy diet is attainable at their own pace and can be affordable will gain their appreciation.”

The paper said than men tend to “splurge” on unhealthy foods when they are happy, while women tend to splurge when they experience negative emotions.

The research also showed that 54 percent of consumers appreciate when food companies, restaurants or grocery stores try to help them make healthier food choices, while 44 percent of consumers say they will pay more for products they consider to be healthy.

More than a third of consumers use food packaging to find health-related information, followed by TV shows (28 percent), websites (28 percent) and the family doctor (28 percent), according to the study.

Weis Markets, Sunbury, PA, has brought on local florist Michael Brody as corporate lead floral designer. He is charged with overseeing and developing Weis’ full service floral design and arrangement business.

In other Weis news, the retailer announced that it will continue it support for the 2015 Great American Cleanup of PA. The retailer has renewed its partnership with Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful and donated refreshments for registered participants of the Great American Cleanup of PA in select areas across the state.

“Weis Markets is pleased to partner with Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful again this year,” said Patti Olenick, Weis Markets’ sustainability manager. “It is part of our corporate commitment to sustainability, being good stewards of the environment and giving back to the communities we serve. We’ve been serving Pennsylvania communities for more than 100 years and we are excited to be part of the Great American Cleanup of PA.”

Since the inception of this event in 2004, more than 1,565,950 million volunteers have picked up more than 80 million pounds of litter and waste, and more than 202,350 tires from Pennsylvania’s landscape. In addition, more than 136,300 trees, shrubs, bulb and flowers have been planted.

Memorial Day is a few weeks away. After a brutal and challenging winter season, we welcome the start of the summer season. Have a great holiday weekend.

Here’s an event that might interest our readers in the Baltimore/Washington and Richmond markets. Vintage World War II aircraft will fill the skies over the nation’s capital May 8, in tribute to the 70th anniversary of Victory in Europe (V-E) Day.

Fifteen flying formations will form up near Leesburg, VA and follow the Potomac River southeast toward Washington. But unlike the usual “river run” of modern commercial flights into Reagan National Airport, the venerable war birds will bank over the Lincoln Memorial, fly over the National World War II Memorial, head east past the Washington Monument along Independence Avenue, and turn south when they reach the U.S. Capitol. The first formation is expected to pass over the Lincoln Memorial at about 12:10 p.m. The Arsenal of Democracy Flyover will coincide with a commemorative veterans’ celebration at the WW II Memorial on the National Mall. Participation of each airframe is subject to weather and aircraft maintenance.

On May 9, about 20 of the aircraft will be featured in a one-day exhibit at the National Air and SpaceMuseum’s StevenF.Udvar-HazyCenter in Chantilly, VA, just south of DullesInternationalAirport. Visitors to the museum will be able to walk among the airframes parked on the aircraft flight line just outside the main hangar from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., weather and safety criteria permitting.

The Air and SpaceMuseum’s Udvar-Hazy Center is open free to the public; however, there is a $15 per vehicle parking fee. For more information and other events leading up to the V-E Day celebrations, including a gala fundraiser for the weekend’s activities, visit www.2flyover.org.

Our sincere sympathies are extended to the family of Carole Sibel, who died late last month of cancer at the age of 79. Carole was the daughter of Percy Chaimson, founder of Chaimson Food Brokerage, and Carolyn Chaimson. She was married to Hanan “Bean” Sibel, who joined his father-in-law in the family business and then headed the successful brokerage for many years.

Carole was well known in the Baltimore area as a dynamic fundraiser and was a force behind the BaltimoreSchool for the Arts, The Associated Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore and the Mount WashingtonPediatricHospital. In 2012, she was the chair of the hospital’s $9 million Building for the Future of Every Child campaign.

Carole was also active in the world of  business, starting as a buyer for the old Hoschschild-Kohn Department store. In 1967, she joined with several friends to open Newbury Place, a Mount Washington preteen clothing store. In 1978,  she formed a bus tour business, Diversions Inc., with partners Gloria Myers and Lenore “Lenny” Shapiro.

Carole was raised in Pikesville and attended Forest ParkHigh School before earning a bachelor’s degree at the University of Maryland, College Park. She was also a competitive tennis player.

In addition to her husband of 58 years, survivors include two sons Steven Sibel and Todd Sibel, a daughter Cara Cohen, and seven grandchildren.

April is National Autism Awareness Month, and Herr’s is partnering with the Autism Society of America. The company is producing limited edition Whole Grain Pretzels with Flax Seed & Honey in a specially designed puzzle-patterned bag filled with ribbon-shaped pretzels in support of autism awareness.

“At Herr’s, we believe in partnering with charitable organizations and in giving back to our community in any way we can,” said Ed Herr, president of Herr Foods. “We are proud to support the Autism Society of America, which is essential in improving the lives of autistic individuals across their lifespan and increasing awareness of the cause.”

For every bag sold, Herr’s will make a 5-cent donation to the Autism Society of America, one of the nation’s leading grassroots autism organizations dedicated to improving the lives of those affected by autism spectrum disorder. The organization provides the latest information regarding treatment, education, research and advocacy.

Join nearly 3,000 anti-fraud professionals as the ACFE Global Fraud Conference heads to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, June 14-19 . As the world’s largest anti-fraud event, the conference will be a can’t miss opportunity to gain the knowledge, resources and connections you need for the global fight against fraud. The 26th Annual ACFE Global Fraud Conference will be held at the BaltimoreConvention Center, located in the heart of downtown Baltimore.

Acme Smoked Fish Corp., manufacturer of Acme, BlueHillBay, RubyBay and Great American smoked and cured seafood, has opened its largest cold smoked salmon facility in Wilmington, NC. The 100,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility was built to initially produce 10 million pounds of cold smoked salmon per year. The new facility complements Acme’s existing headquarter location in Brooklyn and another facility in Pompano Beach, FL.

Burris Logistics, the Milford, DE based provider of customized retail distribution services specializing in temperature controlled supply chain solutions, has renewed a supply agreement with The Fresh, the North Carolina-based specialty grocery retailer with revenues of more than $1.7 billion and stores in 27 states across the U.S.

Since establishing a partnership with Burris, The Fresh Market has added more than 100 stores. In turn, Burris Logistics says it has maintained a reliable and highly efficient supply chain in the midst of this rapid growth by adding a second distribution center, expanding its dedicated fleet and enhancing all aspects of technology to make the supply chain seamless and simpler for both retailer and distributor.

Donnie Burris said, “Our custom distribution solution – unlike the traditional wholesaler model – provides a transparent procurement service. The Fresh Market has full control of the buying process and an understanding of the exact cost of goods. This allows the Fresh Market team to focus on selecting healthy choices and unique offerings that inspire and engage the consumer.”

The Chincoteague, MD Chamber of Commerce has a fabulous party planned for May 2, 2015 at Tom’s Cove Park Campground, 8128 Beebe Road, ChincoteagueIsland. The fun begins at noon and lasts until 4 pm. The 47th Annual Chincoteague Seafood Festival promises to be bigger and better than ever. Audio Sauce from Virginia Beach will be the featured band to provide an afternoon of song and dance.  An extravaganza of prizes from local businesses will be raffled and the Arts & Crafts tent will be back by popular demand. Vendor and hospitality spaces and sponsorships are now being offered at  www.chincoteaguechamber.com. This is a great opportunity to showcase your business to thousands of folks. The event is held to promote the seafood industry on Virginia’s Eastern Shore.

Joy Sgro recently joined C&S Wholesale Grocers as VP of merchandising for all perishable and non-perishable customers serviced from Robesonia, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. Sgro began her food industry career with 16 years of buying and procurement positions at Richfood of Pennsylvania, spent nearly eight years with Nash Finch in merchandising positions of increasing responsibility, and most recently was VP of trade relations and margin management with Bozzuto’s.

Six Giant/Carlisle and Martin’s associates took to the phones by volunteering during the 2015 Giant/Carlisle’s “I Care for Kids” Radiothon on WIOV 1105.1. The event raised $123,380 for Children’s Miracle Network at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital. The funds will purchase specialized equipment, support patient programs and jump-start innovative research at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital.

Thanks to the support of Our Family Foundation, Triple Winner 2015 kicked off in the Giant/Landover division last month (see photos on page ?? of this issue). Through the Triple Winner 2015 campaign, Our Family Foundation will donate a total of $5.6 million to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/The Jimmy Fund, MemorialSloanKetteringCancerCenter, JohnsHopkinsSidneyKimmelCancerCenter and The Children’s Cancer Foundation.

And here’s an interesting report from Business Insider: Wal-Mart is trying to shut down a parody site called Walmart.Horse that, in fact, features a picture of a horse in front of a Wal-Mart – no copy, no insults, just a picture of a horse in front of a Wal-Mart. The retailer sent the owner a cease-and-desist order, claiming that the site infringes on its trademarks.

Congratulations to Michael Hughes of Hughes Sales Inc. who is celebrating 18 years this month at Hughes Sales.

And on a final note, congratulations to Dave Webb general manager of the newly opened Wild Seafood, located in the Maryland Food Center Authority’s only retail space. The space was formerly occupied by Frank’s Seafood, where Dave was the manager for many years. Dave developed a loyal following of customers throughout the region. When the longtime owner of Frank’s suddenly closed the retail store in September 2014 for personal reasons, Dave was without work.

According to John Hong, the accountant for Wild Seafood, the New York-based company was interested in expanding its reach in the Washington, Maryland and Virginia area and recruited Dave.

Wild Seafood currently operates two markets and one restaurant in New York.

Rose Harrell, director of facilities for the Maryland Food Center Authority, the government agency that owns the location and leases it to tenants, said it was important to replace Frank’s and provide a retail outlet to customers. The facility, located at 7901 Oceano Avenue in Jessup, MD, is home to a number of wholesale seafood retailers, including Congressional Seafood, E. Goodwin & Sons, J.J. McDonnell Co., NAFCO Wholesale Fish Dealers and Reliant Fish Company.

And, in related seafood market news, later this year, NAFCO and Congressional will be moving to a new $8.9 million, 88,000-square-foot building that is currently being built next door.

We ran across an article recently in the Wall Street Journal by Will Lyons and thought the readers of Food World might find it of some interest. “A new industry report has revealed how much wine is being produced each year – and who is drinking it.” Figures from the International Wine & Spirit Research, a London- based drinks research group, estimates that 3.2 billion cases of wine were produced in 2013 or 38.4 billion bottles—54 percent red wine, 37 percent white and 9 percent for rose. And most of it is drunk in the United States and Europe, not France.

According to the International Wine & Spirit Research (IWSR), the United States is still the biggest market by volume, drinking a total of 339 million cases of wine in 2013, followed by France’s 296 million. Italy followed with 288 million, Germany with 274 and China with 144 million. The United Kingdom was sixth, drinking a total of 133 million cases.

Per capita wine consumption shows a different picture. Italy is the leader with France, Switzerland, Portugal and Austria not far behind.

The countries that spend the most on wine are the United States, France and the United Kingdom. The International Wine & Spirit Research predicts that by 2018, the top still-wine markets by value, the U.S. with $33.2 billion and the United Kingdom with $17.1 billion.

Sparkling-wine consumption was led by the Germans, who drank 46 million cases in 2014, followed France at 30 million, and Russia, which consumed 26 million cases. The U.S. was fourth with 18 million cases, and the United Kingdom consumed 11 million cases.

With the Northeast in the midst of an extremely cold winter, here’s an interesting article by Janet Forgrieve of The Sip we picked up on the internet on the subject of drinking habits during colder weather. “Cocktail fans (of which I’m one) turn to hot toddies; Tipplers sip warm brown whiskeys, and wine drinkers put away the rose in favor of something deep and red to keep the winter chill at bay. It may be Meyer lemon season and time for light aperitifs on the West Coast, but in colder climates cocktail fans seek out beverages to warm up inside and out.”

“They’re going for a lot of the same things that they’ve been going for, for a while, a lot of bourbon and whiskey, but they’re getting a lot more creative this winter,” said Adrian Watson, owner of mobile bar tending service VIP Mixologists, based in New York City.

The long lines outside New York City’s supermarkets during the recent snow events didn’t tell the whole story. In fact, Manhattanites were stocking the bar as well as the fridge. As dire warnings about the blizzard of the century filled the Manhattan airwaves recently, residents turned to local liquor stores to stock up on their favorite warming wines and spirits. While plenty of customers were opting for their standard vodka (my personal favorite), many others were opting for whiskies and other brown spirits that are traditional for warming the winter season, as well as red wines, according to Watson. And there was definitely a generation gap – millennials were choosing vodkas, while baby boomers were more likely to stock up on whiskey and wine.

Men and women are different, certainly, when it comes to what they put in their grocery shopping carts. While women’s carts tend to be packed with produce, snacks and sweets, men’s baskets tend to contain more meat and booze according to the new Food Shopping in America study by Krystal Steinmetz

(Hartman-group.com), conducted by The Hartman Group and food and nutrition marketing agency MSLGROUP. The study revealed that men are doing more grocery shopping than before. In fact, men now make up 43 percent of primary shoppers.

On average, Americans do some type of grocery shopping three times a week, whether online or at convenience stores, mass merchandise or grocery stores, or other venues. The study revealed that men and women are doing the same amount of grocery shopping, which is a marked change from past years.

Men and women grocery shop in different ways. While many women browse, “men prefer to simply ‘search and retrieve’ the few items they need,” the study said.

Many food brands are now taking note of the male shopper, who has been mostly ignored in the past.

According to The Washington Post, some brands are introducing new flavors that they hope will appeal to the male taste buds.

The National Grocers Association (NGA) announced a new alliance with The Coca-Cola Co. and RetailNet Group (RNG) to provide a customized retail marketplace intelligence platform exclusively for National Grocers Association (NGA) independent retail and wholesale member companies.

Coca-Cola’s support will enable NGA retail and wholesale members to gain complementary access to RNG’s valuable retail insights starting March 1 of this year.

Here’s an interesting story from the Richmond Times-Dispatch about Kroger getting into the growler business. Kroger’s Short Pump store is the first of the chain’s Richmond-area stores to add a station for draft beer sales. (Growlers are reusable glass or metal containers of beer—usually 32 or 64 ounces.) The refillable jugs have become a favorite among the craft beer crowd.

The only other Kroger stores in Virginia to get growler stations so far are the larger Marketplace-format stores in Suffolk and Portsmouth. The response has been enthusiastic, so much so that the grocery chain is looking at other stores to add the stations. It’s a way to feature local beers made in limited quantities. Short Pump Kroger’s growler station has eight taps offering a mix of local, regional and national brews.

Here’s an interesting story out of Maine. Exports of U.S. lobster to China have skyrocketed in the past few years, largely to satisfy the appetites of the communist country’s growing middle class, to whom a steamed whole lobster – flown in live from the United States – is not just a festive delicacy and a good-luck symbol but also a mark of prosperity. New England lobster fishermen have been recording epic catches in recent years and are grateful for the business from the world’s second-largest economy. Maine, which accounts for more than 80 percent of all U.S. lobster, hauled in more than 250 million pounds in 2012-13, the highest two-year total in the record books which go back to the 1800s.

Congratulations to Acosta’s Nick Matook, who will be honored as The Massachusetts Food Association Person of the Year at its Family Convention this month.

Our sympathies go out to the family of William “Bill” Thompson III, a partner in the former Baltimore food brokerage firm W.H. Bryan Company. Bill passed away last month at the age of 83. When Jeff and I first came to the Baltimore market after buying Food World in 1978, Bill and W.H. Bryan Co. were big supporters of ours. Bill is survived by his children William E. Thompson IV, Diane T. Knipp, Robert C. Thompson, Hilary T. Harrington and the late J. Scott Thompson, as well as 15 grandchildren and two great grandchildren. The family has said that memorial contributions in Bill’s memory may be made to Ascension Lutheran Church, 7601 York Road, Towson, MD 21204; or The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation at 230 East Ohio Street, Suite 304, Chicago, IL 60611-3201 or www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org.

Michele Ferrero, the founder and patriarch of the Italian Nutella and Ferrero Rocher empire, died last month on Valentine’s Day. He was 89, the company said in a statement. Multiple European news outlets said that for months he had been battling illness.

Italian President Sergio Mattarella called Ferrero “entrepreneur bred” and praised his “innovative products” and “hard work.”He was “the richest candyman on the planet,” according to Forbes, which put his wealth at $23.4 billion.

Ferrero’s father, Pietro, turned the family pastry shop into a production facility back in the 1940s. Because of World War II, chocolate was rationed, so he mixed in hazelnuts to produce more product. The spread now known as Nutella was once six times less expensive than chocolate, according to the company.

The company soon became known for its distinctive products like the namesake confections wrapped in gold foil. It now produces tons upon tons of Nutella—every year, an amount that weighs as much as the Empire State Building.

Ferrero products came to the United States in 1969. The first arrival was the Tic Tac mint. The company also produces Kinder chocolates. The company is family-owned and run by Ferrero’s son Giovanni.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all our readers. Kathy and I will be celebrating at our local watering hole, Clyde’s of Columbia, on March 17! Join us if you’re in the area.

Kathy and I went on our annual holiday trek to New York City. There is something exciting about the sights and sounds of New York City during the holiday season. As we were walking on East 46^th Street (between Madison & Fifth Avenue) we passed a restaurant that caught our eye. The name of the restaurant was Food World.

We got a copy of their menu. Its logo, although not exactly like this newspaper’s former logo, but very similar. The logo had a globe with the word FOOD inside the globe and the word WORLD outside the globe.  At first I thought I was looking at the front page of Food World, and then I thought maybe Best-Met Publishing had gone into the restaurant business.  On our next visit we plan to stop in. Food World, which has seating for more than 200, serves breakfast and lunch and offers event and break time catering. The Food World experience is everywhere!

The National Restaurant Association (NRA) each year gets in the kitchen with chefs to reveal the top menu trends for the coming year. For its annual “What’s Hot Culinary Forecast,” the NRA surveyed nearly 1,300 professional chefs – members of the American Culinary Federation (ACF)– to find which foods, cuisines, beverages and culinary themes will be hot trends on restaurant menus in 2015.

The top 10 food trends for 2015 are: 1) Locally sourced meats and seafood; 2) Locally grown produce; 3) Environmental sustainability; 4) Healthful kids’ meals; 5) Natural ingredients/minimally processed food; 6) New cuts of meat; 7) Hyper-local sourcing; 8)Sustainable seafood; 9) Food waste reduction/management; 10) Farm-and/or estate-branded items.

“As consumers today increasingly incorporate restaurants into their daily lives, they want to be able to follow their personal preferences and philosophies no matter where or how they choose to dine,” said Hudson Riehle, SVP of research for the NRA.

On the drink menu, the What’s Hot in 2015 survey predicts the top five alcohol and cocktail trends will be: Micro-distilled/artisan spirits; 2) Locally produced beer/wine/spirits; 3) “New Make” whiskey; 4) Food-beer pairings; 5) House-brewed beer.

Here is an interesting tidbit – Every IGA location in the U.S., is now a member of the National Grocers Association (NGA). There are 1,150 IGA stores across the United States. “IGA and NGA have had a long-established relationship that over the years has allowed us to work together for the benefit of IGA’s independent retailers and NGA,” said IGA CEO Mark Batenic and NGA President and CEO Peter Larkin in a joint statement. “Our new relationship means that we will be providing IGA retailers with all the benefits NGA has to offer, including tangible resources related to advocacy, education and innovation.

IGA, short for Independent Grocers Alliance, was founded in 1926, bringing together independent grocers across the U.S. To ensure that the trusted, family-owned local grocery store remained strong in the face of growing chain competition.

In 1982, NGA was founded on the philosophy of ensuring independent, community-focused retailers and wholesalers have the opportunity to succeed and better serve the consumer through effective policies, advocacy, programs and services.

Mars Chocolate North America has promoted Timothy LeBel to vice president of sales. In his new role leading the Mars Chocolate sales organization, LeBel will oversee the strategy and execution of the group’s retail management, customer account teams, field sales, customer development and customer experiences. He serves as a member of the New Jersey-based company’s senior management team and will play an active role in industry events.

A 24 year veteran of Mars, LeBel offers sales experience both in the Chocolate and Petcare divisions. LeBel earned his bachelor’s degree in marketing and finance from the University of New Hampshire and an MBA in organizational leadership from Gonzaga University.

Congratulations to Linda Gilroy, JOH account executive, who recently received an award as Mid-Atlantic Produce Broker of the Year for her work with Ventura Foods. Ms. Gilroy was honored with this outstanding award for her devotion, leadership and personal commitment to JOH and Ventura Foods brands.

Maryland’s McCormick & Co. is introducing a lineup of 25 new products ideal for winter meals. McCormick says its new winter products cater to today’s more adventurous consumer palate, reflecting a desire for everything from bold chile heat to ethnic flavors. Great way to beat the winter blahs!

In case you missed it, Forbes.com recently had a story about the best retail jobs available, concluding that “a handful of retail chains have risen above the rest.” The findings from from Glassdoor’s annual survey of the best places to work. Of the retailers that made the list of 50 places to work, H-E-B got the best ranking: “H-E-B workers rated their pay and benefits 26.5 percent above the average with the company’s 401(k) plan employee discount winning plaudits.” Costco was further down the list, with workers giving “Costco’s salary and benefits particularly high ratings; with an average of 5.3 on Glassdoor’s 1 to 5 ranking system. By way of comparison, associates at competitor Wal-Mart—which did not make the list -gave their employer a 2.8 in this category. The story goes on: “The fourth and final retailer to make Glassdoor’s top 50 is Wegmans, the upscale grocery chain based in Rochester, NY and with stores across the Northeast.”

Congratulations to Dana Metzger Cohen (Jeff and Audrie Metzger’s daughter) for receiving a first place award for her work from the National Public Relations Society of America for fund raising and development.

Dana, who is an account executive for Baltimore based Clapp Communications, received the award for work she had done for Volunteers America Chesapeake. Volunteers America Chesapeake works to uplift the most vulnerable people among us. A faith-based health and human services nonprofit serving Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia, Volunteers of America Chesapeake runs 31 programs and offers services in core areas, including homelessness, intellectual disabilities, veterans, mental illness and corrections. Clapp Communications works with Volunteers of America Chesapeake on strategic communication initiatives to increase awareness, development, partnerships and media presence.

We received a very nice Christmas/New Year’s note from retired Baltimore/Washington food broker Charlie Nolte (Leaman Company, KLF) and his wife Susan.  He informed us that he and Susan are enjoying good health and that he attended his 60th McDonogh High School reunion this past April and got to see many friends from nearby and from other states.

 As a reminder, I welcome all news and items of interest from Food World readers, those currently working in the industry as well as retired food industry folks. Information can be sent to me at [email protected].

Happy New Year to all who work in the wonderful world of the Food Industry in the Mid-Atlantic and the USA. May all your wishes for 2015 come true!

The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) has denounced a new food ratings system announced by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), saying the EWG new Food Scores program is “severely flawed and will only provide consumers with misinformation about food and beverage products they trust and enjoy.”

EWG said its ratings were the first guide to the American supermarket landscape to rate foods against all three of these criteria: nutritional value; health concerns about ingredients (including additives and preservatives) and contaminants (such as mercury, arsenic and BPA); and the degree and type of processing. EWG’s product scores range from 1 (best) to 10 (worst). Only one food out of six earns Food Scores’ top rating.

“Today, shoppers who care about the quality of food and how it was produced might look for labels like ‘natural’ and ‘whole grain,’ organic’ or ‘non-GMO certified,’ even as they wonder which claims mean something and which are marketing hype,” EWG president Ken Cook said in a release.” The truly conscientious scrutinize the Nutrition Facts panel on the back of the package. But few if any of us have the time or patience to peruse an entire food section and compare one label with another, much less read the microscopic fine print that lists ingredients we often cannot pronounce.”

GMA, which represents product manufacturers, in a statement called EWG’s methodology into question.” Not only will the EWG ratings provide consumers with inaccurate and misleading information, they will also falsely alarm and confuse consumers about their product choices,” GMA added. “Embedded in the ratings are EWG’s extreme and scientifically unfounded views on everything from low-calorie sweeteners to the nutritional value of organic foods.”

GMA urged consumers to follow the federal government’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which include eating a variety of foods as recommended by ChooseMyPlate.gov combined with regular physical activity to create an overall healthy lifestyle.

To assist in the Chesapeake Bay’s conservation efforts and offer sustainable, affordable seafood in its stores, MOM’s Organic Market has started its own oyster farm off of Fleets Island, VA.

MOM’s sampled and sold oysters at the grand opening of its first store in Washington, DC November 14-6, as well as at stores in Rockville and Alexandria. MOM’s customers can also recycle oyster shells in-store thanks to the Oyster Recovery Partnership. By having its own oyster farm, MOM’s makes oysters more affordable to its customers.

Every year Coca-Cola pauses to honor the veterans and members of the United States military who sacrifice to serve their country and protect America’s freedoms. This Veterans Day, the company recognized the famed “Alcatraz 11” by reuniting four of the six remaining Vietnam War veterans during a special recognition ceremony. The Alcatraz 11 were Navy and Air Force pilots, captured in North Vietnam, who were the most uncooperative and subversive POWs. The men survived for up to six years in captivity at an infamous POW camp called Alcatraz, where much of their time was spent in solitary confinement.

The company also honored the thousands of veterans employed by Coca-Cola. “Since the 1940s, The Coca-Cola Company has held a longstanding commitment to support our service members. This tradition continues today as we pay respects to the many men and women, including our associates, who have proudly served their country,” said Sandy Douglas, president of Coca-Cola North America. “It will be a true honor to welcome and reunite the distinguished members of the ‘Alcatraz 11’ and their families. They embody the incredible sacrifice and perseverance of veterans and their families across the country.”

The four “Alcatraz 11” members who attended the recognition ceremony were George Coker, George McKnight, James Mulligan and Robert Shumaker. Other special guests included Louise Mulligan, spouse of James Mulligan and one of the founders of the POW-MIA movement, and Alvin Townley,  author of “Defiant,” the definitive account of the “Alcatraz 11” experience.

Retired Lt. Gen. Mick Kicklighter, current director of the Department of Defense Vietnam War Commemoration Team (DODVCT), recognized this year as the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the Vietnam War during the ceremony. The Coca Cola Co. is a corporate sponsor of the DODVCT.

As part of the weeklong Veterans Day observance, Coca-Cola also hosted its annual USO care package stuffing party. Many Coca-Cola associates assembled more than 3,100 wounded soldier care packages which were distributed to soldiers wounded on the battlefield and evacuated directly to field hospitals with little or no access to basic hygiene items or other supplies.

We were sorry to hear about the death last month of Ralph Klein, founder of the nine-store Klein’s ShopRite of Maryland supermarket chain. Klein died November 22 at the Hooper House Hospice Care facility in Forest Hill, MD of complications from heart and kidney disease. The lifelong resident of Harford County, Maryland, was 88.

Klein was born in Fallston, MD, on July 29, 1926. His parents operated a general store in Fallston that served the rural farming community. Ralph graduated from Bel Air High School in 1943 and attended St. John’s College in Annapolis for two years before being drafted in 1945 to serve in the United States Army. He completed basic training in upstate New York, before deploying in April 1945 to the Europe. Following the defeat and surrender of Nazi Germany, Mr. Klein remained in the occupation forces, rising to the rank of technical sergeant. He was honorably discharged from the Army in 1947, and enrolled under the GI Bill at the University of Maryland to complete his college studies. He graduated from Maryland’s College Park campus in 1949 with a bachelor of science degree in business administration, and returned to HarfordCounty, where he joined with his father to form Maurice Klein and Son, a general retail company. The company purchased all the assets of another local retailer, Eli Tucker, in Forest Hill. The principal building was expanded three times until the business relocated a mile south to its present location in 1978.

The company expanded from one store in Forest Hill to six supermarkets in Harford County, two supermarkets in Baltimore County and one supermarket in Baltimore City. In March of 2009 the company joined the Wakefern Food Corporation cooperative and began trading as Klein’s ShopRite of Maryland.

Outside of his business endeavors, Ralph was active in local politics, running unsuccessfully for a seat on Harford County’s first County Council, and later serving for more than a decade on the Harford County Democratic Central Committee. He served for more than two decades as a director of Forest Hill State Bank, and led the bank through its merger with Mercantile Bancorp. He principally focused on providing start-up loans for medical service, agricultural and other local business ventures.

Aside from business ventures and local politics, Ralph and his wife Shirley were dedicated to the cause of improving the quality of health care in Harford County. The Kleins were among the leading proponents and supporters of the $10,000,000 capital campaign to underwrite the construction of Bel Air’s Upper Chesapeake Medical campus. The hospital, now associated with the University of Maryland Medical System, received several leadership gifts from the couple, whose names now grace the hospital’s main lobby and the façade of the new Klein Ambulatory Care Center. Ralph and Shirley Klein also gifted property to construct the hospital’s Hooper Hospice facility.

Ralph provided construction funding for the Harford Equestrian Center’s observation tower, and land for the Forest Hill substation of the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company.

He was a founding member of Temple Adas Shalom in Havre De Grace and a lifelong congregant of Baltimore Hebrew Congregation in Baltimore. He was also a lifelong supporter of the Jewish National Fund, B’nai B’rith International, and Israel Bonds.

Ralph is survived by his wife of 62 years, Shirley Snyderman Klein; sons Andrew, Michael and Howard; daughters-in-law Jayne, Clara and Susan; and grandchildren Marshall, Samuel, Sarah, Jacob, Rachel, Stephen, David and Victoria.

Contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to the Upper Chesapeake Health Foundation, Temple Adas Shalom, or the Baltimore Hebrew Congregation Torah Restoration Project.

Jeremy Diamond, owner of Diamond Marketing Group, reported that his cousins, Avi and Berly Schuster (an old name in Baltimore food retailing history), owners of the Markets at Highlandtown International supermarket in Baltimore City, recently welcomed their first grandson, Otto Ben-Tzion Hershkovitz, into the world last month. Parents are Josh and Lena Hershkovitz, owners of the award winning Federal Hill neighborhood restaurant, Hersh’s Pizza and Drinks in Baltimore.

Otto Ben-Tzion is named after his late grandfather and Jeremy Diamond’s uncle and grocery innovator, Ben Schuster of the former Food-A-Rama supermarket chain and Maryland Food Industry Hall of Fame member.

The International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association (IDDBA) recently elected its 2014-2015 officers and board of directors at its annual business meeting in Chicago.

David Leonhardi, director of tradeshows, tours and events for the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, was elected the association’s board chairman. William G. Klump, Butterball LLC, will continue to serve on the board of directors as past chairman.

In addition to Leonhardi, industry leaders elected to serve three-year terms on the board of directors for Madison, WI based IDDBA include: Gaetano Auricchio, BelGioioso Cheese; Craig Drefcinski, Hormel Foods Corp.; Peter Sirgy, Dreser’s Fine Foods; Philippe Surget, Lactalis American Group; Erik Waterkotte, John Morrell Food Group; and John Wellenzohn, Rich Products Corp.

In addition to Klump, board members continuing to serve include: Jim Antrup, Dawn Food Products; John Cheesman, Maplehurst Bakeries; Linda Duwve, Emmi Roth USA; Rick Findlay, Whole Foods Market; Glenn E. Harmon, Pricemart; Tim Holler, Schreiber Foods; Jewel Hunt, Safeway; Ray Lippert, Bakery Crafts; Edward R. Meyer, Schnuck Markets; Mark Rudy, Hubert Co., Greg Schlafer, Lamb Weston; Joe Squires, Land O’Lakes; J.K. Symancyk, Meijer; Dotty VanderMolen, Advantage Waypoint; and Voni A. Woods, Giant Eagle.

As this is the last issue of Food World for 2014, all of us at Best-Met Publishing wish each and every one of our loyal and faithful readers and advertisers, a very happy and healthy holiday season. We look forward to an exciting 2015 in the food industry.

Last month, the Children’s Cancer Foundation held its 30th annual gala – “A Star Spangled Celebration!” This year’s honoree was the very affable Gordon Reid, president of Giant/Landover, who was joined by his lovely wife Gillian. More than 600 tickets were sold, making for a sizeable donation to the charity begun by the late Shirley Howard to help end children’s cancer. As usual, the folks at Valley Mansion by Martin’s did a fantastic job with the food and drink, posting stations of foods from different regions of the country around the ballroom. The entertainment, provided by “Bruce in the USA,” was a big hit and a good time was had  by all. CCF president Dr. Jerrold Chadwick and the entire gala committee should  be commended for putting together such a successful evening.

We’re very proud to present this year’s Best-Met Publishing Pete Manos Retail Executive of the Year award to Benjy Green of B. Green. Jeff and I have known Benjy since we bought Food World in 1978, and he has been a great friend and a valued business partner. B. Green will celebrate its 100th anniversary next year, so this seems like the perfect time to honor Benjy and his family’s achievements in the industry. Congratulation, Benjy!

Last month, more than 22,400 members of the global fresh produce and floral industry’s supply chain convened in Anaheim, CA for the annual Produce Marketing Association Fresh Summit. Highlights included thought-provoking general sessions, an expo featuring new products and trends, technologies and innovations, educational workshops that featured hot topics delivered by industry and business experts and presentations and industry engagement with Let’s Move! executive director and senior policy adviser for nutrition Sam Kass, U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) deputy commissioner of foods Mike Taylor and California Secretary of Agriculture Karen Ross.

The summit focused on inspiring kids to eat healthier and on a series of education sessions including topics like global trade, emerging floral trends, talent management and food safety. Attendees who took the conversation online with social media made history for the fresh produce and floral industry when Fresh Summit was marked as one of the most popular social media conversations around the world all day.

We know that many in the Mid- Atlantic food industry spend many days at meetings and shows in New York and have visited the world famous steak house Peter Luger’s. Last month according to a public-opinion poll conducted by Zagat Surveys (owned by Google, Inc.), Peter Luger serves the best burger in New York, followed by Burger Joint. The survey was based on flavor, value and ingredients.

Minetta Tavern, B&B Winepub, Spotted Pig, and Umami Burger followed, all scoring 22 points against 24 for Peter Luger and 23 for Burger Joint. DuMont Burger, Shake Shack and Keens score 21, while Melon took 10th place, with 20. Peter Luger’s Luger-Burger and Minetta Tavern’s Black Label were tops for flavor and ingredients, while Burger Joint scored for value.

According to the survey, the best new restaurant in New York is Sushi Nakazawa, in the West Village, while Eric Ripert’s LeBernardin retained its crown as tops for food for a sixth year, according to Zagat. Daniel led for decor and Gramercy Tavern was the most popular.

By specialty, the winners were: Mighty Quinn’s for barbecue; La Colombe for coffee; Red Farm for dim sum; Ample Hills for ice cream; Pearl Oyster Bar for the lobster roll; Paulie Gee’s for pizza; Chuko for ramen; Il Bamabino for a sandwich. I can attest to the excellence of the lobster roll at Pearl Oyster Bar – it is one of my favorite lunches when Kathy and I make our annual trek to see the holiday displays.

Le Bernardin scored 29 for food. It was followed by Bouley (also 29); Jean-Georges, Gotham Bar & Grill, Eleven Madison Park, Daniel, Sushi Yasuda, Gramercy Tavern, Peter Luger, La Grenouille, Annisa and Sea Fire Grill (all on 28).

New Yorkers report eating out 5.4 times a week (breakfast, lunch and dinner), compared with 5.2 times for diners nationally. The average spend on a dinner out is $48.15 a person, compared with a national average of $39.40, Zagat said. These results are based on a public-opinion survey of 30,592. Ratings and reviews from the “2015 NYC Restaurant Survey” is available at Zagat.com.

Walmart, Target, Coca-Cola and Pepsi are among the top 10 most beloved brands of Millennials, according to the 2015 Top Millennial Brand Ranking Report released recently by Moosylvania (http://moosylvania.com), an independent digital advertising agency. The brand comparison study was conducted with Millennials in two separate surveys over the course of nine months.

In addition to their favorite brands, Millennials participating in the latest study identified key media traits that transform a high-awareness brand into a beloved brand. Important brand characteristics that matter most to Millennials include high-quality products (75 percent), would recommend this brand (61 percent), fits their personality (53  percent), shares similar interests (39 percent), social responsibility (40 percent),  and says important things (31  percent).

Norty Cohen, founder and CEO of Moosylvania said, “Millennials are not just consumers – they’re friends. They trust friends who listen to them, are open and honest, remember their names, are consistent and stay true to who they are.”

The soda giants – Coca-Cola, Dr. Pepper Snapple Group and PepsiCo have pledged to reduce beverage calories consumed per person nationally by 20 percent by 2025. The “Balance Calories Initiative” was announced by the companies at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York as part of the Alliance for a Healthier Generation.

“I’m excited about the potential of this voluntary commitment by the beverage industry,” President Bill Clinton said in a statement. “It can be a critical step in our ongoing fight against obesity.”

The beverage companies will leverage their marketing, innovation and distribution capabilities to increase consumer interest in and access to beverage options to help consumers reduce calories consumed. Through these efforts, water and other lower-calorie beverages are expected to grow significantly.

Each beverage company will provide calorie counts, and promote calorie awareness on all beverage company-controlled point-of-sale equipment nationwide, including more than 3 million vending machines, self-serve fountain dispensers, and retail coolers in food stores, restaurants and other locations. Among other efforts, the companies’ end aisle and checkout displays will feature only reduced-calorie beverages; reduced-calorie beverages will be repositioned on shelves; and coupons will be provided for no/lower-calorie options.

The beverage companies will retain an independent, third-party evaluator, in conjunction with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, to track progress and interim benchmarks toward their commitments.

Five female convenience industry veterans were named Women of the Year at the Top Women in Convenience by Convenience Store News during an awards breakfast last month in Las Vegas.

The event also honored other outstanding women leaders, “rising stars” and store managers.

The five honored were Kim Bowers, president and CEO of CST Brands Inc.; Gwen Forman, vice president of marketing at Cumberland Farms Inc.; Allison Moran, CEO of RaceTrac Petroleum Inc.; Barbara Poremba, vice president of national retail sales at Coca-Cola Refreshments; and Jennifer Rhodes, CEO at Ohio Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Association.

Congratulations to Beverly Lynch on being appointed president of the Food Industry Association Executives (FIAE) effective April 1, 2015. Lynch has a 34-plus year career working in all aspects of association management. She currently serves as a consultant to her former company – the Advocacy and Management Group (AMG), which manages 14 state-based associations and lobbies for a variety of professional clients. She has held a variety of positions with the National Grocers Association, the New Jersey Food Council, New Jersey Food Processors Association and the New Jersey Department of Commerce and Economic Development.

A very Happy Birthday wish is extended to of all things, The Panama Canal, which is 100 years old this year.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Last month Shoppers Food & Pharmacy announced a partnership with the American Diabetes Association (ADA), saying it will support the association’s “Stop Diabetes” campaign, a program that funds community outreach and education programs aimed at raising awareness of the nation’s diabetes epidemic.

In support of the campaign, the company offered the customers at all 56 Shoppers locations the opportunity to purchase a “Stop Diabetes” paper placard at the cash register for $1. All proceeds from the sale, which began August 30 and ran through September 14, were donated to the ADA, whose  mission is to prevent and cure diabetes while improving the lives of the nearly 30 million Americans estimated to be living with the disease.

Along with the in-store fundraiser, Shoppers representatives also participated in “Step Out Baltimore: Walk to Stop Diabetes,” a fund raising event with the goal of generating $500,000 in donations for the Association. “Step Out Baltimore,” a family-friendly occasion consisting of a three-mile route that took participants through scenic Patterson Park and back to the waterfront, where they enjoyed a day filled with face painting, pumpkin painting, bounce houses, live music and complimentary lunch.

Shoppers’ contributions to the “Stop Diabetes” campaign will help to fight an epidemic that remains among the nation’s leading health crises. The number of cases of diabetes and pre-diabetes among American of all ages and ethnicities continues to increase, underscoring the importance of the Association’s mission to battle the disease. For more on the ADA’s work, as well as facts on diabetes, visit www.diabetes.org.

Food Marketing Institute (FMI), the voice of the nation’s food retailers, launched its U.S. Grocery Shopping Trends 2014 report in June and recently compiled additional resources related to the study’s

key findings. The report reveals dramatic changes in the consumer universe that have impacted the way food retailers do business.

FMI advocates on behalf of the food retail industry. FMI’s U.S. members operate nearly 40,000 retail food stores and 25,000 pharmacies, representing a combined annual sales volume of almost $770 billion. Through programs in public affairs, food safety, research, education and industry relations, FMI offers resources and provides benefits to more than 1,225 food retail and wholesale member companies in the United States and around the world. FMI membership covers the spectrum of diverse venues where food is sold, including single owner grocery stores, large multi-store supermarket chains and mixed retail stores. For more information, visit www.fmi.org and for information regarding the FMI foundation, visit www.fmifoundation.org

HP Hood, one of the largest branded dairy operations in the U.S., announced its recognition by the Winchester-Frederick County (VA) Economic Development Commission as Dairy Food’s 2013 Dairy Processor of the Year. The company’s numerous plant expansions in Winchester have offered quality jobs for the county’s citizens over the years, establishing the company as an integral part of the community.

Founded in 1846, today Hood is one of the largest branded dairy operators in the country. Using

state-of-the-art high-temperature manufacturing with current and emerging packaging technologies, Hood provides a variety of branded and private label products including fluid dairy, citrus, cultured foods, frozen desserts, extended-shelf-life dairy and non-dairy beverages.

And speaking of beverages, a recent blog by Justine Hofherr of the Boston.com staff states, “Since we are on the subject of beverages, because Starbucks has taken over the world with the pumpkin spice latte (PSL), they think they can do anything they want like create a latte that tastes like beer. The Dark Barrel Latte, made with a flavored syrup that reportedly tastes like dark stout beers like Guinness, is the coffee company’s latest latte venture, according to The Irish Independent. The creamy drink is topped with whipped cream and dark caramel sauce. It’s only available in select markets at the moment, but those who have heard about the new beverage have responses ranging from ecstatic to suspicious, to ‘….just plain horrified.’”

In still more beverage news, The Coca-Cola Co., Dr. Pepper Snapple Group and PepsiCo have pledged to reduce beverage calories consumed per person nationally by 20 percent by 2025. The “Balance Calories Initiative” was announced last month at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York as part of the Alliance for a Healthier Generation.

“I am excited about the potential of this voluntary commitment by the beverage industry,” President Bill Clinton said in a statement. “It can be a critical step inn our ongoing fight against obesity.”

The beverage companies will leverage their marketing, innovation and distribution capabilities to increase consumer interest in and access to beverage options to help consumers reduce calories consumed. Through these efforts, water and other lower-calorie beverages are expected to grow significantly.

Each beverage company will provide calorie counts and promote calorie awareness on all beverage company-controlled point-of-sale equipment nationwide, including more than 3 million vending machines, self-serve fountain dispensers, and retail coolers in food stores, restaurants and other locations.

Among other efforts, the companies’ end aisle and checkout displays will feature only reduced-calorie beverages; reduced-calorie beverages will be repositioned on shelves; and coupons will be provided for no/lower-calorie options.

The beverage companies will retain an independent, third-party evaluator in conjunction with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation to trace progress and interim benchmarks toward their commitments.

Congratulations to two of the convenience store chains in our region: Wawa and Sheetz were both among North America’s top five c-store retailers, according to a study by Market Force Information. Also recognized in the top five were QuickTrip, RaceTrac and Speedway.

Ahold’s Stop & Shop chain in New England recently celebrated its 100th birthday commemoration at stores throughout Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island. In honor of the milestone all stores on the day of the anniversary welcomed customers, served cake and gave out 100th anniversary balloons. Many stores also hosted other activities like food samplings, balloon artists and face painting for kids. Five stores had special appearances by New England Patriots alumni and cheerleaders. Stop and Shop New England president Joe Kelley visited the Somerville, MA store where Stop & Shop was founded in 1914.

And speaking of Ahold, Giant/Landover has introduced RxTimer Cap, an electronic cap that is an alternative to the traditional prescription medication caps. The caps let customers know exactly how long it has been since their last dose. Containing a built-in LCD timer, Rx Timer Cap works like a stopwatch, keeping track of the hours and minutes since a patient last opened the container and took his or her medication.

Every time the cap is opened, the timer resets to zero. When the cap is closed, the timer automatically begins counting up the hours and minutes since the medication was last consumed. There are no alarms to program or buttons to press, and it works with any prescription medication.

Whole Foods along with Wine.com has created a new, national initiative, Wine Club by Whole Foods Market. The goal, the company said, will be “to bring extraordinary, one-of-a-kind wines from around the world directly to wine lovers’ homes” and will “offer Wine Club members four shipments of six bottles each a year at the price of $125 per shipment, including shipping costs.”

And speaking of Supermarkets I’m sure most of our readers watched the Demoulas saga as it played out in Massachusetts for the past months. Did you know that MIT recently hosted a forum to talk  all things Market Basket because the strike was the kind of stuff academics like to feed on? The forum discussed key lessons learned from the Market Basket saga as well as how to use them in teaching future business practices. It’s not surprising to see academics take up the Market Basket discussion as several professors followed the summer protests closely, with some attending employee rallies and others speaking with the media about the story’s wider implications.

Birthday wishes to my grandson RJ Bestany (13) and my daughter-in-law Stephanie.